Microstructure and magnetic properties of electrodeposited CoPtP alloys

Abstract

CoPtP alloys have been grown by electrochemical process in an external magnetic field in order to enhance the perpendicular magnetic properties. The coercivity and squareness of the alloys were improved as the external magnetic field was increased. The alloys have a mosaic microstructure consisting of grains with size in the range of 10-15 nm. The grains are separated by highly well defined 1-2 nm grain boundaries. The alloys exhibit a columnar microstructure with a hcp [002] fiber texture. The films exhibit significant perpendicular magnetic anisotropy and permanent magnetic properties in the perpendicular direction, with coercivity of up to 6.1 kOe and squareness of up to 0.9. (C) 2006 American Institute of Physics.